Edwin Okoronkwo has been sentenced to 75 months in a US federal prison for defrauding Americans through an elaborate cat fishing scheme.
His wife, Juliet Okoronkwo, who was also an accomplice in the fraud, received a 25-month prison sentence. After completing his sentence, Edwin will be deported to Nigeria.
The couple, both lawful permanent residents of the United States, stole identities and created fake online personas to deceive victims. Posing as high-ranking US military officers on overseas missions, they tricked victims into sending money under false pretenses.
The scheme, which spanned multiple states, was carried out through social media, phone calls, and mail services.
Using stolen identities, the couple convinced victims to send money via the United States Postal Service, FedEx, and UPS.
Juliet played a key role by personally contacting victims over the phone to further manipulate them into believing the fabricated stories.
Prosecutors revealed that Juliet, who worked at a hospital, exploited her position to access confidential patient records, including Social Security numbers and Nebraska driver’s license information. These details were then used to strengthen their fraudulent schemes.
In addition to his prison term, Edwin has been ordered to pay $342,535 in restitution to seven identified victims.
Once he completes his sentence, he will be placed under three years of supervised release before being deported to Nigeria.
The US Department of Justice stated that the case highlights the dangers of online scams and identity theft.
Authorities continue to warn the public against falling for online schemes involving impersonation, especially those claiming to be military personnel seeking financial assistance.
Crediblenewsng.com
